approved for city workers

By MICHELLE WILSON

Staff Writer

Published Sept. 30, 1999

Hourly city of Troy employees received a five percent pay increase Tuesday night when Troy City Council approved the fiscal year 1999-2000 budget.

The council approved the budget proposed by Troy Mayor Jimmy C. Lunsford without any amendments. Resolution 406, which is the budget, passed unanimously.

Lunsford said the budget lists the general fund expenses at $10.6 million and the utility fund expenses at about $14.9 million. This represents a $800,000 increase over last year’s budget. He attributed the increase to an anticipated growth in sales tax and other revenues.

Half of the raise is comprised of a cost of living expense increase, he said. It takes effect in the October pay period.

Council President Johnny Witherington read a resolution detailing the council’s support of Teen Advisors. The board is comprised of 49 Charles Henderson High School students who will serve as mentors to younger students.

Terry Watkins, health education outreach coordinator, said the students on the Teen Advisory Board were recommended by their teachers at CHHS and have taken pledges to abstain from sex and using tobacco, drugs and alcohol during their tenure.

"This allows kids with the desire to stand for certain morals and values to stand together," said Chandler Matthews, who also works with the Teen Advisors. "They will provide positive peer pressure by talking to freshmen at area high schools."

The program is sponsored by Edge Regional Medical Center and Charles Henderson Child Health Center.

Witherington said he was proud of these students for taking a stand. Council Member Jason Reeves commended the students for their efforts.

In other business, Witherington held the first reading of Ordinance 169, a proposed property annexation. Sam Brown requested the city annex a 20.16-acre parcel of land near Enzor Road into its limits.

Witherington said action would be taken on this ordinance at the council’s Oct. 12 meeting.

The council approved Resolution 410 to award a bid for a tractor to be used by the city’s Grounds Department. The low bid was submitted by Henry Farm Center of Brundidge for $1,615.14.

Council also approved Ordinance 170 to allow a local cable franchisee to make organizational transfers involving funds. The action required the council’s approval based on the city’s cable franchise act.In the appointments segment of the meeting, the council approved Reeves as its delegate to the National League of Cities on Dec. 4. Councilman Charles Meeks was approved at Troy’s alternate delegate.

Troy business man George Balmer, who owns Balmer Automotive, spoke to council members about the problem of narcotic drugs in Troy. He said his son-in-law bought drugs from a crack house in Troy and he is deeply concerned about the availability of drugs here.

Balmer said he did not believe the city was taking adequate steps to combat the drug problem because he was unaware of their efforts to do so.

Lunsford told Balmer average citizens are unaware of what the city and the Troy Police Department are doing to fight drugs because they cannot share that information for with the public fear it would damage ongoing investigations. He commended the work of city police officers.

"I admit to you there is a drug problem in Troy," Lunsford said. "A lot is being done about that.

"I admire the Teen Advisors for seeing that there are problems in our society and for looking for solutions."

Council member José Henderson did not attend the meeting because he is at an out-of-state conference for his job at Head Start.